asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will outline the terms of the new agreement on bacon exports to the United Kingdom signed in London last week; and if he will indicate the significance of this agreement for the Irish bacon industry.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bacon Exports to UK.
9.
The renewed Bacon Market Understanding, signed in London last week, governs the supply of bacon to the British market for the three years commencing 1st April, 1969, and replaces the original Understanding which came into operation on 1st April, 1964. The Understanding has as its object the maintenance of stable market conditions for bacon on the British market.
The total quantity allocated to all suppliers, including Britain, for the year commencing 1st April, 1969, is 639,000 tons as compared with 632,500 for the current year. Ireland's basic share for 1969/70 will be 28,180 tons as compared with 28,010 tons for 1968/69 and 27,000 tons for the first year of the 1964 Understanding.
The Understanding will benefit the Irish pigs and bacon industry by helping to counter large fluctuations in supplies of bacon to the British market. Ireland is, of course, also interested in the supply of pork to the British market and concurrently with the signing of the renewed Bacon Market Understanding an Exchange of Letters on Irish pork exports to Britain took place between the Irish Ambassador in London and the British Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. These letters note the plans of the Government of Ireland for the export of pigmeat to the UK, give an assurance that it is not the intention of the UK Government to impose restrictions on imports of pork, and provide that in the event of any arrangements becoming necessary to control imports of pork there will be consultation between the two Governments with a view to seeking an equitable solution for any difficulties that might be involved for Ireland.
May we assume from what the Minister has said that it is reasonable to anticipate that during this five-year period there is not much prospect of Great Britain desiring to limit our pork exports to Britain?
That would be a reasonable expectation.
We need not apprehend that there is a likelihood of there being a surplus?
I do not think we should be thinking in those terms at the moment.